<p>Sustainable production Forest products1</p><p>Some of the main activities being promoted to divert pressure from natural resources in biodiversity rich areas include: a) bringing in additional areas under green cover; b) meeting local demands; c) encouraging environment-friendly substitutes; d) promoting energy efficient devices; e) restricting use and extraction of only desired part of the organism rather than the entire organism; and f) creating awareness and an enabling environment.</p><p>Economically effective and socially viable incentives for conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, such as, use of wood substitutes, alternative energy sources (biogas, wind mills, solar cookers, wave energy, fuel efficient stoves, etc.), establishment of nurseries, tree planting, stall feeding, water harvesting and pollution abatement measures are encouraged.</p><p>Growing emphasis on poverty alleviation and livelihood opportunities and at the same time ensuring sustainable management and use of forest resources is explicitly mentioned in National Status Report on Forests and Forestry in India (2006).</p><p>GOI has enacted the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of the Forest Rights) Act, 2006 for empowering the tribal and other communities and protecting their access and use of forest resources.</p><p>Funds have been generated as part of food for work activities done by United Nations World Food Programme in collaboration with State Forest Departments of a number of States. The funds thus generated provide resources for sustaining the maintenance of natural resource management related interventions.</p><p>The Joint Forest Management programme implemented through Forest Development Agencies and Joint Forest Management Committees has emerged as a powerful tool to achieve sustainable forestry in India.</p><p>NTFPs play an important role in the social and traditional life of forest dependent populations, including women and children. Therefore, it is essential that women play a greater role in the management of resources. In this context, the relevant provisions of National Environmental Policy for empowerment of women provide a framework for incorporating elements of proposed action.</p><p>Trade in some items such as tendu leaves, sal seeds, myrobolans, gums and resins is nationalized in some States. In Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the major share of net revenue goes back to NTFP gatherers. Sustainable management of NTFPs is one of the major concerns which is being ensured through development and application of non-destructive methods of NTFP collection.</p><p>1 India (2009). India’s fourth National Report, Ministry of Environment and Forests, New Delhi, 2009, 144 pp.. Remedial actions for restoration of degraded areas have been undertaken through eco-restoration programmes by involving local people. Special attention has been given to coastal zones through Coastal Regulation Zone Rules, 1991 and draft Coastal Management Zone Notification, 2008.</p><p>Various programmes initiated by the MoEF, including National Afforestation Programme, setting up of Joint Forest Management Committees, etc., focusing on greater participation of the community to improve their livelihoods. These programmes also help in poverty alleviation in the respective areas.</p><p>The involvement of private sector is encouraged in initiatives on the sustainable use of biodiversity. For example, both public and private sectors comprising individuals, companies, cooperatives, and industry, are playing key roles in the commercial forestry. The private sector has also demonstrated its ability to enhance the productivity of wastelands and is dominant in the areas of wood harvesting and processing.</p><p>Honey Bee Network is an important example to illustrate the measures taken to protect and encourage customary use of biological resources in India. Development of community knowledge register on medicinal plants undertaken in various states, being implemented by UNDP/ GEF, is yet another example of this kind.</p><p>Challenges and constraints</p><p> Lack of permanent institutional arrangement and regular sustained income flows to participating communities under Joint Forest Management.</p><p> Need to strengthen and synergize linkages between the Panchayati Raj Institutions and Joint Forest Management Committees.</p><p> Organizational support is lacking and little or no incentives for non-timber forest products gatherers for access to market; unsustainable and destructive harvesting and lack of inventory data or value addition and non-remunerative prices in NTFPs; rational harvesting of potential of NTFPs through scientific approaches and greater people’s participation.</p><p> Lack of adequate awareness on the multiple roles and benefits of forests and its relevance to poverty alleviation and sustainable development.</p><p> Relatively low priority for forestry in national planning process.</p><p> Slow pace of policy reforms and inadequate regulatory mechanism.</p><p> Over-emphasis on government control and involvement and difficult administrative procedures.</p><p> Weak forestry information system rendering decision-making difficult.</p><p> Inadequate investment in forestry, non-commensurate with its role in sustainable development.</p><p> Inadequate space for private participation and lack of full realization of people’s participation.</p><p>2  Inadequate frontline staff and targeted research and extension studies.</p><p>Technology India (2009) Over the years, India has developed a robust institutional structure for promoting human resource development and capacity building through inter–ministerial arrangements to enrich the understanding of concepts, themes and complex inter-linkages on biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilization of bioresouces. These initiatives are further augmented through electronic and print media for awareness generation among the masses.</p><p>A number of Ministries/Departments, agencies, and organizations are supporting research relating to biodiversity. Coordination among these organizations needs to be enhanced. There is also a need to effectively integrate findings of research projects into policy-making.</p><p>Some initiatives in capacity building in the field of livelihood diversification opportunities for local communities to meet their economic needs compatible with ecological sustainability have been taken up by NGOs. The following illustrative example indicates the potential of involving a large number of stakeholders, especially women, for enhancing technology-based- livelihood opportunities to reduce their dependency on bio-resources.</p><p>Participatory technical innovation and research for enhancing livelihood opportunities (Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organization, Uttarakhand): Pioneered up-gradation and renovation of watermills commonly known as ‘Gharats’ for power generation and improving their efficiency. As pulses of mountains are in high demand, developed pulse villages and conducted trials of improved varieties of seeds and good agricultural practices. Over 120 village women (25 from each village) were imparted training on cultivation practices, grading and packaging and making value added products. Activities on improved fodder cultivation (12 locations) to meet the fodder demand in rural areas involving women. Development of nursery technology with bio-fertilizer packages using VAM fungi and plant growth promoting Rhizo-microorganisms (PGPRs) with multi-locational trials for regeneration of degraded forests and waste lands.</p><p>Challenges and constraints</p><p>- Infrastructure and human resource for conducting research and development especially in the emerging areas of biodiversity conservation need to be augmented.</p><p>- Insufficient training programmes for various stakeholders.</p><p>- Need to focus research and capacity building on new and emerging issues such as biosafety, climate change and biofuels. Towards this, the audio, visual and the print media could be more effectively used.</p><p>3 - There is a need to strengthen the in-service training and orientation courses for personnel engaged in conservation programmes.</p><p>- Participation of private sector in R&D also needs to be further encouraged.</p><p>4</p>